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How to make beeswax candles

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You will need:

  • wicking
  • sheets of beeswax
  • hair dryer
  • scissors
  1. Decide the height and shape you want for your candles. Cut a piece of wick that is the height you want for your candle. If your beeswax is too long, use scissors to cut it to the height.
  2. Set the hair dryer to the heat setting. Turn it on and warm one end of the beeswax sheet. Start with the edge that will form the inside of the candle and warm the entire length that will be the height.
  3. As the wax warms, you should see a color change. For some colors it maybe be harder to notice. In that case, watch to see a softening of the wax.
  4. Turn the hair dryer off, and lay the wick along the warm end. The wax should be soft enough to start rolling it. It is like rolling up cinnamon rolls.
  5. When you get to the wax that is warm, stop. Turn the blow dryer on and warm the next section. Start rolling. Continue until the candle is almost finished.
  6. Make sure the last strip of wax is very warm (almost melting), as you finish rolling the candle. These edge creates the outside seam. You want to be smooth and well stuck together. Gently run your fingers along the edge to press the seam in place.

Hints:

  • If you are having trouble getting the wax to roll at the beginning, slightly mold the first edge to create a bit of a ridge. Put the wick right along the ridge and then start rolling.
  • Shorter candles are easier to make when you are just starting out.
  • A tightly rolled candle will be narrower than a loosely rolled candle made from the same size sheet of wax.
  • A common width for candles would be a sheet that was 20 cm wide. If you want a candle that is 25 cm tall, use a sheet of wax that is 20 x 25cm.

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